By-pass preventer and automatic shut-off



Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX NAUDS AND HARRY SEWARD ROSS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BY-PASS PREVENTER AND AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF.

Application filed August 18, 1923.

To at]? 71 71017? it may concern.

Be it known that we, MAX NAUDs and HARRY S. Ross, both citizens of the United States. and residents of the city of New York. borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved By-Pass Preventer and Automatic Shut-Off of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved device for preventing by-passing gas meters and has for an object to provide a construction wherein the removal of the gas meter will automatically shut off the gas in such a manner that it cannot be again turned on without breaking the seal of the gas company.

another object of the invention is to pro vide a device to be attached between a gas meter and the gas supply line therefor which will automatically operate for shutting off the gas whenever the gas meter is removed.

In the accompanyingdrawing- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a by-pass preventer and automatic shut-oft, disclosing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View through Figure 1, approximately on line Q-2.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through Figure 1. on line 3-3.

Figure t is a transverse sectional view through Figure 1, on line 4- L Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals. 1 indicates a gas meter of the usual construction provided with a boss 2 having a right-hand thread in the usual manner. Instead of connecting the boss 2 through a suitable fitting to the main, aspecial automatic shut-off device 3 is provided which is screwed into the end of the fitting a carrying the usual manually actuated shut-off valve 5. The fitting-4t is threaded with a supply pipe in any desired manner and is sealed to the casing 6 of the device 3 by a suitable seal 7 applied by the gas company. The lower end of the casing 6 is provided with a left-hand thread 8 accommodating the left-hand threads 9 of the connecter 10. which connecter is provided with internal right-hand threads 11 for screwing onto the threaded boss 2. A wire mesh or perforated sheet metal diaphragm 12 is mounted on a ring 13 and is arranged Serial No. 658,135.

in the connecter 10. The ring 13 is preferably soldered in place whereby the diaphragm 12 is permanently located and will permit gas to freely flow therethrough but will prevent an instrument from being inserted into the casing 6.

Vhen the gas meter 1 is unscrewed, the section of the connecter 10 having the lefthand threads will screw into the threaded section 8 until the portion 14 of the connecter 10 will strike the end or shoulder 15 whereupon the movement will stop and any continued movement will cause the gas meter 1 to be unscrewed from the connecter. In order to accomplish this result, the threads 11 are adapted to fit rather snugly the threads on the boss 2 so that the left-hand threads will first function in order that the device may be operated as hereinafter fully described. The connecter 10 is provided with an annular flange 16 which fits into the notches 17 and 18 of the arms 19 and 20 whereby when the connecter is moved inwardly as just described, these arms will be raised and will in turn raise the cross bar 21, which cross bar is provided with guiding feet 22 and 23 fitted into grooves 24: and 25 in the upright frame 26. The frame at the top is provided with a transverse bar 27 and a short distance below the transverse bar 28. Approximately half Way between the bar 28 and bar 21 is an additional transverse bar 29 having an aperture 30 for accommodating the shank 31 of the cone 32. The shank 31 is provided with teeth for ac commodating the spring pressed pawls 33 and 3 1, which pawls are pivotally mounted in suitable notches in bar 21 and which normally engage the shank 31 so that whenever bar 21 is raised by the action of arms 19 and 20 and the connecter 10, shank 31 and cone 32 will be raised. Upon raising these members, cone 32 will engage the ends 35 and 36 of the levers 37 and 38 which are pivotally mounted in suitable apertures in bar 28. The lever 37 is provided with three teeth 39 while lever 38 is provided with two teeth 40 adapted to fit into the space between the teeth 39 when permitted. It will be evident that a greater or less number of teeth may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention, though the number specilied has been found to be desirable.

These teeth normally rest against a supporting member 11 which may be glass or other fragile material capable of being broken. when the cone spreads ends 35 and 36 andforces the teeth toward each other.

Normally the member 41 engages and supports the stem 42 of the valve 43 so as to hold the same off of its seat l4. This seat is formed in a Jlate l5 Dressed a 'ainst the casing 6 by the fitting 4t. Pins 46 and 1-7 are threaded into the plate 4:5 and extend the pin d9 whereby when the fragile 1ne1n-- her all broken, spring 458 will quickly seat valve e3 and, consequently, shut oif the how of gas. This happens whenever the connecter 10' is screwed into the casing: and no gas can be secured until after the d rice 3 is removed and a new fragile member ll placed in position. By this construction and arrangement, it will be impossible for unscrupulous persons to remove the gas meter and connect the main supply pipe to various gas using devices.

What we claim 1. A device of the character described, comprising a casingadapted to, be connected with a gas supply pipe, a connector adapted to be tl'lreaded onto a gas meter, said connecter havinga left-hand threaded tubular section, said casing having a left hand tubular threaded section adapted to receive the left-hand threaded section. of the connecter, a shut-off valve arranged in said casing; and means actuated by said connecter when the same is screwed into said casing; for causing said valve to close and thc-i'eby shut oft the flow of gas.

52. A; device of the character described, comprising a casing, a plate mounted on one end of he c-a'sing having a valve seat, a l e adapted to be seated on said seat, a )ringfor tending to continually cause said a fragile rnember norvalve to be no l'y preve spring from seati sen, valve, Inc for breaking said fragile member, a connector threaded into said casing and adaptedto cause said fragile member to be broken when screwed to given position, said connecter hing adapted to be screwed to said given position when the gas meter connected therewith is unscrewed therefrom.

8. Av device of the character described, comprising a casing having an end plate arranged at one end formed with a valve opening, said casing; being restricted and provided with an internally thread-ed tubular section at the opposite end, a connecte-r adapted to be threaded into said tubular section, a valve co-acting with said valve seat, aspring'r sting to move the valve against its seat, a fragile memoer for normally supporting the valve oil? its seat, breaking members for breaking said fragile member, means for actnating said break- Jeers, and arms connected with said means and with said connector wherebywhen said connector is screwed a predeterni n-cd distance in said tubular member, said breaking means will be actuated.

i. A. device of the character described,

comprising a casing said casing being: pro

vided with an end having a valve seat, a valve co-actinn' with sz'd seat, a spring acting to close said valve, a fragile member for normally holding said valve 0pen, a pair of breaking members for breaking said fragile support, a cone for actuating said breaking members, a plurality of pawls for i rornia-lly supporting said cone and for raising the cone for causing anactuation of said ln'ealqine inen'ibers, bar for supporting said pawls, a plurality'of arms connected with said bar, and an adjuster screwed into said casing, said adjuster beins; formed with means interlocking with said arms for causing movement of said arms when the adjuster is screwed into the casing whereby said pawls will raise said cone and ca fan. actuation of said breaking members lor releasing said valve.

MAX NAUDS. HARRY SEXVARD BOSS. 

